A banner for the Cambodian People’s Party, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, in Phnom Penh, the capital. Cambodia’s only well-known opposition party was shut down by a court last year.CreditAmanda Mustard for The New York Times

It’s election season in Cambodia, and the fireflies are out.

Phnom Penh – Cambodians use that term — “ampil ampik,” in the Khmer language — to refer to little-known political parties that flash onto the scene shortly before an election, then fade back into obscurity.